 Mike's love for dance music is born from the golden era of progressive house in Florida. Already ensconced in the rock music scene at home in Cincinnati where he stage-managed a concert hall that booked BB King and Smashing Pumpkins, Mike moved to Orlando in 1994 to study recording engineering. There, he discovered a dance music scene in full bloom. Each week brought new talent to Orlando's legendary Firestone, with names like Sasha and John Digweed, Danny Tenaglia, Humate and Rabbit in the Moon playing to an up-for-it crowd, and Mike eagerly soaked in the sounds.
Mike assisted with the production of a multitude of tracks (mostly breakbeat) for various Orlando labels before retiring to focus on his own productions full-time, a sound that Mike says reflects his personal preference for 'driving dancefloor progressive'. Mike also happens to share a house with Jesse "Medway" Skeens, a man responsible for some of the greatest moments ever in progressive house, and the pair have collaborated on more than one occasion.
"I'm just recreating the experiences that I had for the other clubbers," he explains. "That's what keeps us all going - the magic that happens when someone gets on the decks and rocks it out."
At the same time Mike began rocking it out behind the decks himself, with residencies and guest appearances at places like Crobar, Space, and Shadow Lounge, alongside the DJ's who'd initially influenced him. His reputation has quickly led to shows all over the world, including packed houses from New York to Canada and even Peru. As Spundae resident and Bedrock artist/producer Jerry Bonham put it, "Mike's productions and DJ skills go hand in hand and he excels at both". In fact, Jerry was impressed enough with Mike's productions to include "Freakout", a Medway/Hiratzka collaboration under the name Minders, on his Interpretations 2 CD for Spundae Recordings, who also released the tune on the vinyl sampler of selected tracks from the compilations.
Mike and Jesse recently completed a Medway & Hiratzka remix of "Freakout" which will be available soon on Dos Engine Recordings. Another one of Mike's tracks that is currently receiving heavy attention is a collaboration with Jim Ramer as Kung Fu Rodriguez called "Streak", which has been signed to Spundae Recordings. John Digweed has already aired this track on Kiss FM, live from Bedrock, and played it during his set at Homelands 2001.
Hiratzka's reputation for flawless, unstoppable progressive sets recently culminated in his selection as presenting DJ for Altered States Vol. 2 for Bliss Productions, delivering a driving mix for CD 2 to compliment a first disc from Bliss's own Jon Cowan. "I'm honored to be working with Jon for the label. They're doing to great things for dance music," he says.
Mike's nowhere near the end of his musical endeavor. There's more to come, such as Mike Hiratzka & Jime Ramer - "In the Bottle" on Bliss Productions, and Envelop - "Say Her Name" on Tune Inn Records (UK), a stormer co-written with vocalist Tara Busch. You can rest assured Mike's going to deliver some more big surprises. But we'll let Choo Choo Records label head and world-renowned producer Barry Gilbey have the last word on this one. "Not content with being a truly nice guy, Mike Hiratzka is also one of the USA's rising stars" says Barry. "He is
destined for greatness!"
More recent happenings include a weekly residency at Heaven in Orlando, Fl. with Mike Hiratzka and fellow dj/producer Justin Scott Dixon. The first month's line-up already looks very promising and could be just what the doctor ordered. Be sure to visit the events page for more information about the night and weekly guests.
for bookings &/or more info, please contact Amanda @ Hands on Deck. ph: 718.349-9525 fx: 718.349-9597 e: handsndeck@aol.com
Discography
Singles Forthcoming
Kung Fu Rodriguez - "Streak" (Original & Yellow Belt remix) - Spundae Recordings
Mike Hiratzka & Jim Ramer - "In The Bottle" (Original & Saintly dub) - Bliss Productions
Minders - "Captured" b/w "Freakout" (Medway & Hiratzka remix) - Lakeshore Records
Envelop - "Say Her Name" (includes Mark Shimmon remix)- Tune Inn Records
Mike Hiratzka ñ ìReach Out To Meî ñ Perpetual Tunes
Remixes
Medway vs Pete Gawtry - "Optical Illusion" (Mike Hiratzka remix) - Progress Inn Records
Previous Releases
Minders - "Freakout" - Spundae Recordings (licensed from Lakeshore Records) - 2001
Fu Man Sanchez - "Strapped On" - Ultra Records - 2001
Mike Hiratzka vs DJ "5.0" - "Run" - Mafddap Recordings - 2001
DJ Stinky - "Hostile Takeover" (DJ Rob-E remix) - Mafddap Recordings - 2000*
DJ Magic Mike - "Its Automatic" (Neurologic remix) - Mafddap Recordings - 2000
Steel-Belted Pirate "Cannonball" b/w "Swashbuckle" - Vortex Records - 1999
AGH - "Yummy!!" (DJ Sandy '99 remix) - Mafddap Recordings - 1999*
The Huggie & Coochie Project - "Daybreak" - Mafddap Recordings - 1999
Neurologic - "This Is Fresh" - Mafddap Recordings - 1999
DJ Sandy - "Sandyman" - Mafddap Recordings - 1999*
S.M.P.E.M.B. - "The Genesis Project EP" - PK Records - 1997
Jason Brown - "Love & Fantasy" (DJ Sandy & Mike Hiratzka remix) - KRAM Records - 1996
Margaret Cernaglia - "Without You" (DJ Sandy remix) - PK Records - 1996*
*Indicates Engineering credit
CD License
Minders - "Freakout" appears on Interpretations 2, mixed by Jerry Bonham, on Spundae Recordings 2001
Minders - "Captured" appears on World in Progress, mixed by Mike Hiratzka, on CMYK/Essential Dance Music 2001
Steel-Belted Pirate - "Swashbuckle" appears on Metropolis, mixed by Lee Burridge, on Tide Recordings 1999
CD Compilations
Altered States Vol.2 - mixed by Jon Cowan and Mike Hiratzka - Bliss Productions 2001
World in Progress - mixed by Mike Hiratzka - CMYK/Essential Dance Music 2001
Recordings Pseudonyms
Minders - co-producer with Jesse Skeens
Kung Fu Rodriguez - co-producer with Jim Ramer
Fu Man Sanchez - co-producer with Jim Ramer
Envelop - producer; co-writer with Tara Busch
Steel-Belted Pirate - co-producer with Boyd Westerman
The Huggie & Coochie Project - co-producer with AGH
Neurologic - co-producer with DJ Sandy
S.M.P.E.M.B. - co-producer with DJ Sandy
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